Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

From Malaysia saying that it will not recognise unilateral sanctions in response to a proposed US law to level sanctions against foreign supporters of Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups to our regional leaders set to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit later this month. Nicholas Fang, Managing Director, Black Dot and Director for Security and Global Affairs, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

Today we’re going to talk about a gaming company that has a triple-headed snake trademark.  Does Razer come to mind? Founded in 2005 and dual headquartered in Irvine and Singapore, Razer is widely recognised as a leading brand for gamers in the US, Europe and China. With a fan base that spans every continent, the company has designed and built the world’s largest gamer-focused ecosystem of hardware, software and services. It also has 16 physical stores around the world including 11 in the US and the rest in Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore.  Looking ahead, Razer’s CEO Min-Liang Tan outlined the firm’s plans to expand to 100 outlets with the initial focus on North America and does not rule out a public offering in the US.  But what are the drivers of growth Razer sees in the gaming space that would support such a network of physical stores? Could moving into lifestyle products be the key to extending Razer’s sphere of influence? Speaking of lifestyle products, Razer seems to be doubling down on partnerships with luxury brands, working with Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbanna on a line of clothing, with watch brand Panerai on a new watch, and with supercar brand Automobili Lamborghini on a gaming laptop.  The move comes as non-gaming brands seek to tap the gamer demographic. Question is – how far can such partnerships boost Razer’s top and bottom lines and position it as the go-to gaming company for the affluent? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Addie Tan, Global Head of Lifestyle Division, Razer Inc.

VAR continued to take centre stage, as the London Derby won 4-1 by Chelsea against Tottenham - was marred by yet more controversy. The use of technology was required on NINE occasions in the first half alone! With the men in the middle facing severe scrutiny, we check in with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu, pundit Gary Neville and Arsenal fan Eddy Hirono on this one! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

While there are many beautiful ready-to-wear accessories on the market, nothing beats custom-made jewellery imbued with your own flair. From one-of-a-kind engagement rings to meaningful family heirlooms, Amanda Ang, Founder, August Bespoke shares what goes on behindturning your wildest dream designs into wearable personalised jewellery. 

Singapore shares struggled to advance at the open today as banks and other index counters started the morning trading session in the red. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) headed down 0.8 per cent to 3,154.90 points after 83.6 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have oil exploration and production company Rex International.  That’s as the firm’s subsidiary Lime Petroleum is set to acquire a 17 per cent interest from two vendors in PL740 in the Norwegian North Sea.  Meanwhile, from Intel shelving its planned chip operation expansion in Vietnam to Shares of Chinese EV makers sliding on a report that Tesla is planning a more affordable model for European consumers, more corporate headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Oriano Lizza, Sales Trader, CMC Markets.

Before 2016, online regulation was pretty low on the political agenda. That changed after the election of Donald Trump and the Brexit referendum. In each case, the losing side came to believe that shady digital forces had been weaponized against them. So how can the law keep up with the ever fast changing social media world?  Benjamin Cheong, Deputy Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Rajah & Tann (& Senior Accredited Specialist, Data and Digital Economy) shares his views. 

What is the first thing you do when you check in at a hotel? While some might check out the fittings like the beds and the space, others might want to soak in the ambience.  But ever wondered what makes a hotel feel a certain way – say like a home away from home?   The answer perhaps lies in the details – say the fragrance, amenity kits, door gifts and other finishing touches, and that is precisely the work of our guest for today. Founded in 2004, GUAVA Amenities is not only a major player in the guest amenity space, but a world leader in Sustainable Guest Amenities. The firm curates and designs unique wet and dry amenity, gift and ancillary solutions. It prides itself on pioneering an ecosystem business model that enables the world’s largest hospitality chains, airlines and cruise lines to reduce plastics by up to 90% and costs by over 20% by decentralising production and distributing directly without intermediaries.  But what is an ecosystem business model exactly? And why is the firm hinging on sustainability as part of its value proposition and to what extent does that benefit top and bottom lines? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Gabriel Tan, CEO, GUAVA Amenities.

From China’s President Xi Jinping meeting Australian PM Anthony Albanese in Beijing to Mr Xi holding talks over video with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.  Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs gives us an analysis of those headlines and more. 

Arsenal said they "wholeheartedly support" manager Mikel Arteta after he criticised the officiating in Saturday's Premier League defeat by Newcastle United. The Magpies goal was allowed to stand after VAR took several minutes to check if the ball went out of play, whether there was a foul in the build-up and for offside as Arsenal fell to their first league defeat of the season. Do the Gunners have a case? Elliott and Raushan discuss! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg | raushan@sph.com.sg

According to the International Labor Organization, 3 out of 4 companies with women in management positions register an increase in profits from 5% to 20% We speak to Jacqueline Chay, Executive Director, AsiaPac Technology, a subsidiary of M1 to find out how she's driving change in the tech industry. Spending almost three decades in AsiaPac Technology, Jacqueline has witnessed a massive shift in the hybrid multi-cloud landscape, explored trends, and navigated ample challenges in the region. Under her leadership, AsiaPac has successfully implemented 100 major enterprise and nationwide projects for its customers.